Sponge mop with adjustable wringer plate



March 1954 w. H. RICHARDS ET AL ,671, 36

SPONGE MOP WITH ADJUSTABLE WRINGER PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April15, 1952 INVENTORS WH RlCHARDS #WJ". RICHARDS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9,1954 UN PATENT OFFICE 2,671,236 sPoNGE MOP WITH ADJUSTABLE WRINGER PLATERichards and William F. Richard s Rel-mm, Del. Application April- 15,1952; serial- No; 282,368 3 Claims; (01. -119) Our invention relates toa mop or scrubbing device. 7

A primary object of the invention is to; provide a scrubmop-having anovel and-improved'wringer plate for the absorbent compressiblescrubbing element or pad of the mop.-

A further object of the invention is to provide in a scrub mop awringing; attachment or plate which is self-adjusting during thewringing operation to more eliectively wring or squeeze the compressiblescrubbing element of the mop and including novel means for preventingrelative movement between the mophead and wringing plate while thelatteris inthe inoperative or nonwringing position. p

A further object is to provide a scrub mop; of the above-mentionedcharacter having a handle which is angularly adjustable substantially-90 degrees. W I 4 A still further object" (iftheinvention is to providea scrubbing device of th above-mentioned character which is extremelyst'urdyand durable inconstruction, inexpensive to man'ufacture andreliable and'efiicient in operation. 4 H

Other objects andadvantagesof the'invention will be apparent during.-the course of the followme description;

in the accompanyingdrawinga l forming a part of this application, andiii-which like numerals are-employed to designate like partsthroug'houtthe same; V

Figure 1' isa planvie'wof a mop embodyingour invention with the handlethereof arrangeaih" a lowered substantially 'hoiitontalposition, part insection and part broken away,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a further side elvation of the ma with the wringer plates'hiftedto the operative or wringing position,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of theinop asshowriin Figure" 1'; with parts omittedand'partsbrokn away; g

Figure5' is a transverse"verticfalsection taken substantially on linefi-B errig'urezg I Figure 6' is a sideelevation-of'thamofiwiththe handlethereof shown in an" intermediate raised position, 4 z 7 Figure"? is afragmentm rroat'e evaubfi of the mop in the 'adjustedposition ofFigures,

Figure 8 is a' vertical cross" section taken" on line 8-8- ofFi'g'ureW;e I

Figure 9' isacentral vertical section taken on line 9-43 of Figure '7, H

Figure- 11 amemergea fregmefitary ver-near section through one of theadjustable connections between the'mop headplate and sponge scrubbingelement shown in Figure 10.

In the drawings where for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 15' designates agenerally flat elongated rectangular head or mounting plate which ispreferably substantially rigid-and formed of sheet metal; plasticsmaterial or the like. The headplate I5- is provided along its forwardtransverse edge with anupwardly rolled sleeve 01 hinge knuckle- 15,preferably integral therewith and extending continuously for the en'-tire width of the headplate l5. Similar sleeves or hinge knuckles H-arefintegrally secured to the rear transverse edge of the headplate 1 Erintransversely spaced relation and the hinge knuckles I"! are arrangednear theoppositesidesof the'head plate, as shown. The headplate' Hi isprovided over a major portion of its area with spaced drainage aperturesF8 for a purpose to be de scribed. V

We provide a readily removable self-adjusting sponge refill assembly l9;substantiallyidentical to the refill assembly disclosed and claimed: in

our copending application Serial No; 273.458; filed February 26, 1952,for Self-Adjusting Mop Head; The refill assembly l-9- comprises anelongated rectangular block or pad 20 of substantial" and uniformthickness,- preferably formed ofcellulosic sponge, or the like.-Permanently; secured tothe top side of the sponge block2'0-in'transversely spaced relation by waterproof cement or the'like arecentral and endmost backing plates 21 and 22 of' substantiallystiffsheet metal-orthe like. A central or intermediate backingplate 21has a central opening receiving an" upwardly directed screw 23,extending through a register-rv ing central openingformedin-theheadplate I5: A'flat washer2 l and nut 25-are mounted upon-thescrew 2-3 above-the headplate l5,-andserve; to fixedly clamp theintermediate backingaplate' 2! against the bottom of the headplate I52"Ifhein termediate backing plate 21 is flat-and-prefem ably extends'forthe entire'width of the elongated sponge'block 20.

The endmostbacking plates 22 likewiseextend entirely across theelongated sponge platejll as shown in Figure 6, but are spaced from theintermediate backing [plate 2l' as shown" inl fig ure 10; th'e''endrnost backingfvplates 22 areflatfla'rid slidably contact the bottomfof" the "head'plate ['5 to permit limited self adjusting or shr in agfbfthe cellulosiaspongeiblockfi fif as vi/ill be farther screw 26 whichalso extends through a longitudinal guide slot 21 formed in theheadplate I adjacent to the particular endmost backing plate 22. Eachscrew 26 has a smooth cylindrical shank portion 28 extending slidablythrough the slot 2? to be guided thereby and each shank portion 23terminates a slight distance above the top of the headplate [5 forforming a shoulder or seat 29 for a flat washer 30 and wing nut 3|,carried by a reduced screw-threaded extension 32 of the screw 26, Figure11. The arrangement is such that when the wing nut 31 and washer are intight engagement with the shoulder 29, there is still a slight clearancebetween the washer 30 and headplate l5, and the screw 26 is freelyadjustable longitudinally within the particular slot 2'! of theheadplate l5. This arrangement permits free self-adjusting of theopposite end portions of the sponge block 25 due to shrinkage andexpansion of the same, as described and claimed in our copendingapplication previously referred to. When it is desired to remove orreplace the sponge refill assembly IQ, it is merely necessary to removethe nuts 25 and 3!, and this permits the removal of the assembly 19including the backing plates 2% and 22 and screws 23 and 25. A newrefill assembly is may then be applied to the mop headplate 15. Withthis arrangement, the life of the mop can be prolonged indefinitely, asthe sponge block 20 is the only element of the mop which is subject toany considerable wear.

The mop further comprises an angularly adjustable handle 33 of anydesired length, having a substantially rigid plate or web 34 rigidlysecured to its lower end by bolts 35 or the like, the web 34 beingdisposed within a slot formed in the lower end of the handle 33, andextending laterally beyond the opposite sides of the handle. The lowerend of the web 34 carries a short right angle extension or flange 35,integral therewith, having its lower end bent to provide a sleeve orhinge knuckle 3'! which interfits with the hinge knuckles I! at the rearside of the headplate 15, the handle 33 being arranged at the transversecenter of the headplate l5, as shown.

U-shaped hinge pins 38 have corresponding sides or arms thereofextending through the hinge knuckles l1 and 31, for hingedly connectingthe angularly adjustable handle 33 and headplate I5. The othercorresponding sides or arms of the U- shaped hinge pins 35 are receivedby sleeves or hinge knuckles 39, formed integrally upon the forwardtransverse edge of a wringer plate 45 to be further described, forhingedly securing such wringer plate to the headplate I 5. As shown inFigures 1 and 4, the inner ends of the U-shaped hinge pins 38 are spacedapart somewhat and terminate near the transverse center of the headplatel5. The hinge knuckles ll, 31 and 39 are quite long, and the longU-shaped hinge pins 38 engage the hinge knuckles for substantially theirentire lengths to form a very sturdy connection between the headplatel5, adjustable handle and wringer plate 40.

The handle 33 is provided near its lower end and in its forward sidewith a plurality of longitudinally spaced grooves or notches M, forcoaction with a transverse bar or locking element 42 of a stifi wirebail including downwardly diverging legs 43. The legs 43 are provided attheir lower ends with short outwardly directed transverse extensions 44which pass through openings or notches 45 formed in the hinge knuckle I6 and engage within the bore of this hinge knuckle as shown in Figure 1.The legs 43 are integrally connected with the transverse bar 42 by loopsor eyes 46, with which the opposite ends of a retractile coil spring 41are connected, as shown. The spring 41 surrounds the rear side of thehandle 33, and serves to resiliently urge the bar 42 against the forwardside of the handle so that the bar 42 is releasably held in positiveengagement with a selected one of the notches 4|.

The arrangement is such that when the bar 42 engages the uppermost notch4! of the handle, the handle i releasably locked in a substantiallyvertical position with respect to the headplate l5, and when the bar 42engages the lowermost notch 4|, the handle is in a substantiallyhorizontal position as shown in Figure 2. The arrangement facilitatesusing the mop for a wide variety of purposes such as scrubbing floorsand windows and scrubbing under extremely low objects such as radiatorsand certain types of furniture. The angular position of the handle 33can be quickly and conveniently adjusted by merely raising the bar 42and engaging the same within a different one of the notches 4|.

The wringer plate 40 is substantially flat, rectangular and elongatedand has substantially the same area as the headplate l5 and sponge block29 so that it will extend completely over the sponge block durin thewringing operation. At its rear end, the wringer plate 40 has a shortupturned flange 48, integral therewith and extending for its entirewidth, and this flange adds considerably to the rigidity of the wringerplate which is also pr ferably formed of sheet metal, plastics materialor the like. The wringer plate is provided over substantially its entirearea with small drainage apertures 49, as shown.

The wringer plate 40 is equipped with a handle formed of stiff wire orthe like and this handle includes forwardly diverging ections or sides5| bent near the flange 48 to form parallel forwardly extending arms 52which extend through openings 53 formed in the flange 48. The arms 52are straight, and lie substantially fiat against the upper side of thewringer plate 40, and mate rially strengthen the same against bending.

The forward ends of the arms 52 are bent to provide hooks 54 whichengage through slots or openings 55 formed in the knuckles 39. The hooks54 are upwardly directed with respect to the wringer plate 40 and engageabout the undersides of the rear arms or portions of the U- shaped hingepins 38. This arrangement locks the handle 50 in place in assembly, sothat the handle cannot be removed until the U-shaped hinge pins 38 areremoved. When the hinge pins 38 are withdrawn from the hinge knuckles l1and 39, their rear arms disengage the hooks 54, and the handle 50 isthen readily separable from the wringer plate 46.

The hooks 54 have forward stop extensions 56, integral therewith, andsubstantially perpendicular to the arms 52. These stop extensions 56extend upwardly between the sides of the U-shaped pins 38 and firmlyengage the hinge knuckles I! when the wringer plate 40 is in theinoperative position and substantially parallel to the handle 33'. Thisarrangement locks the wringer plate 40 against swiveling movement in thedownward direction, about the lower arms of the U-shaped hinge pins 38,Figure 9, relative to the head plate l5, which would otherwise bepossible through the U-shaped pins 38.

However, when the wringer plate 40 is swung to the operative positionshown in Figure 3 for compressing the sponge block 20 to expel the waterfrom the samethe extensions. of; the books 54 disengag the knuckles Hand permit free pivotal action of the U-s'haped hinge pins 38 within theknuckles 39, I1 and 31." In other words, the wringer plate 10 is nowfree to automatically adjust itself substantially parallel to theheadplate 15 during the wringing operation, and the U-shaped hinge pins38 are free to adjust themselves substantially atright anglesto thewringer plate 40 and headplate l5, as shown in Figure 3. Thisarrangement prevents the formation of an acute angle between the hingedends of the head and wringer plates l and as would be the case if asingle straight hinge pin were used between these plates. Such anarrangement would result in an eneven squeezing or wringing of thesponge pad 20, since the same would be tightly squeezed at the rear sideof the headplate l5 and squeezed to a lesser extent near the forwardside of the headplate as shown in Figure 3. By virtue of the freepivotal action of the U-shaped hinge pins 38, the headplate I5 andwringer plate 40 may adjust themselves in response to the resistanceoffered by the compressible pad 20 and .the plates :5 and 40 may assumethe substantially parallel spaced relation shown in Figure wherein therear ends of the plates l5 and 40 are spaced apart substantially thesame amount as their forward ends, and the compressible sponge pad 20 issqueezed evenly and thoroughly over its entire area.

When the wringing operation is completed, and the wringer plate 40 isreturned to the inoperative or stowed position shown in Figure 8, theextensions 56 again swing into engagement with the knuckles I! and lockthe U-shaped hinge pins 38 against clockwise movement, Figures 8 and 9.This is desirable at this time, since the mop is now used for scrubbing,and a firm and rigid connection between the handle 33 and headplate I5is desired, with no possibility of the headplate I5 shifting upwardlyrelative to the wringer plate 40, when a downward force is applied tothe handle 3.3.

In order to releasably hold the wringer plate so in the inoperativeposition, we provide a spring clip 57, permanently secured at 58 to thewringer plate 40 near the upturned flange 48 and at the transversecenter of the mop. The clip 51 extends above the fiange 48 as shown, andthe arms of the spring clip receive the handle 33 and resiliently holdthe wringer plate 40 and its handle 50 in the inoperative positionsclose to the lower side of the handle 33, as shown.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. A mop comprising a headplate, a compressible pad secured to one sideof the headplate, the headplate being provided along one longitudinaledge with spaced hinge knuckles, a handle for the mop provided near itslower end with a hinge knuckle interfitting with the hinge knuckles ofthe headplate, substantially U- shaped hinge pins having correspondingsides engaging within the interfitting knuckles of the headplate andhandle and hingedly connecting the headplate and handle, adjustablemeans connecting the headplate and handle and permitting the handle tobe raised and lowered about saidsides of: the U-shapedhinge-pins andrelease-- ably lockedv in the :selectedsadjustedf:position,1a wringerplate for compressing said padto expel water from the same and providedwith a hinge knuckle receiving the mother. corresponding sides of theU.-shaped.hinge pins, thewringer .plate being adapted .to .assume aninoperative -position below the handle and substantially parallelthereto, and a separate handle for the wringer plate and including apair of spaced arms extending across one-side of the wringer plate, thearms being provided with hookspass'ing under the sides of the "U-'shapedhinge pins which are received by the hinge knuckle of the wringer plate,the hooks being provided with stop extensions extending between thesides of the U-shaped hinge pins and engaging the knuckles of theheadplate when the wringer plate is in the inoperative position, thestop extensions disengaging the knuckles of the headplate when thewringer plate is swung to the operative position so that the two sidesof the U-shaped hinge pins may then swivel freely within the knuckles ofthe head and wringer plates.

2. A mop comprising a headplate, a compressible pad secured to one sideof the headplate, the headplate being provided near one edge with spacedhinge knuckles, a handle for the mop provided near its lower end with ahinge knuckle interfitting with the hinge knuckles of the headplate,substantially U-shaped hinge pins having corresponding sides engagingthe interfitting knuckles of the headplate and handle and hingedlyconnecting the headplate and handle, a wringer plate for compressingsaid pad and provided with a hinge knuckle engaging the othercorresponding sides of the U-shaped hinge pins, means carried by thewringer plate and engaging the handle to hold the wringer plate in astowed position adjacent one side of the handle, and hook elementscarried by the wringer plate and projecting beyond one edge of the sameand embracing the sides of the hinge pins which are received by thehinge knuckle of the wringer plate, corresponding sides of the hookelements extending between the sides of the U-shaped hinge pins andengaging the hinge knuckles of the headplate when the wringer plate isin the stowed position, the hook elements disengaging the hinge knucklesof the headplate when the wringer plate is swung to the operativeposition so that both sides of the U-shaped hinge pins may swivel freelywithin the hinge knuckles of the head and wringer plates.

3. In a mop device, a headplate provided near one edge with a hingleknuckle, a handle for the mop arranged bodily near said one edge of theheadplate and provided near its lower end with a hinge knuckleinterfitting with the hinge knuckle of the headplate, a substantially U-shaped hinge pin having one side engaging the interfitting knuckles ofthe headplate and handle, whereby the handle is bodily swingable aboutsaid one edge of the headplate, the other side of the U-shaped hinge pinbeing arranged near said one edge of the headplate and adapted to swingin an are about the same, a wringer plate disposed bodily near said oneedge of the headplate and provided near one edge with a hinge knucklereceiving the other side of the U-shaped hinge pin, the wringer platebeing swingable to a stowed position adjacent one side of the handle andbeyond said one edge of the headplate, means connected with the wringerplate for releasably securing the same to the handle when the wringerWILLIAM H. RICHARDS. WILLIAM F. RICHARDS.

8 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Number Name Date Severns Apr. 6, 1915 Blackma-n June 22, 1920Jelenfy June 16, 1936 Vaughn July 11, 1939 Lux Nov. 19, 1940 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Canada Jan. 10, 1950

